Gripen fights for Indian contract

Saab has sent JAS-39D Gripens to India to participate in the MMRCA contest.

Gary Parsons - 9-Mar-2010

Saab Gripen NG. Saab image

March 9: Saab has sent JAS-39D Gripens to India to participate in the potential $11 billion Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRCA) contest instead of the required NG variant, reports the Indian Business Standard.

India had wanted to evaluate the JAS-39IN Gripen NG as offered by Saab, but due to upgrades being added to the NG prototype it is not available, says the newspaper, hinting that it may lead to disqualification.

Gripen International’s Director for India, Eddy de la Motte told the newspaper that Indian Air Force pilots will be offered a chance to fly the Gripen NG during a visit to Sweden between April 6 and 10 and that Saab would take the NG to India as soon as possible.

The Business Standard suggests that Gripen was leading the race for the 126 aircraft contract, but that failure to bring the NG has “blown the race wide open” to its competitors, which include Dassault’s Rafale and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.

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